Research

National Center for Outreach
The National Center for Outreach (NCO) was founded in 1999 with the vision of helping Public Television stations become better connected to their communities through community outreach. The NCO over-all mission is to extend the impact of public broadcasting and to engage and foster community participation through public television.

Digital Innovations Unit
The WPT Digital Innovations Unit (DIU) was formed in 1999 to explore digital video production, management and delivery. The DIU applies new or experimental technologies to innovative projects, and based on this R & D develops models and strategies for future new technology projects related to public service media.

Digital Television
Digital Television (DTV) is a revolution in television. It's an over-the-air system that maintains our tradition of universal access to public service television and all six of WPT's stations now offer digital broadcasts. To receive the digital signal viewers need one of three pieces of hardware: a digital television, a set-top converter box or a TV tuner card that adapts a home computer to receive digital broadcasts.

Learning Objects
BAMI units are working together to explore the use of learning objects for use in instructional content development. Learning objects are modular, reusable digital content stored centrally, used to support learning. As an example, ICS works with faculty in developing sign language learning objects to be used to teach an American Sign Language course. Digital video clips can be shown on a PDA, used in online course, on web sites, etc. to visually demonstrate a variety of signed words.